Las Cruces, NM - The United States Marshal
Service in New Mexico assisted the Las Cruces Police Department in reuniting a 1
year old child with her family in the United States. The young girl's mother,
Nicole Jauregui, 19, and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jose Mendez, are being
charged with child abuse after the one year old tested positive for drugs.

After being charged Jauregui and Mendez fled to Mexico with the child and were
arrested as they tried to reenter the United States in El Paso, TX at the Port
of Entry. The United States Marshals Service worked closely with the Las Cruces
Police Department and the United States Customs and Border Protection Officials
to make sure the two did not make it back to the United States undetected. Once
back in the United States Jauregui and Mendez were arrested and the child was
reunited with family who now have legal custody of the child.

The child’s safe return and arrest of Jauregui and Mendez was the result of a
joint effort by the Las Cruces Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Office,
Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, and several area law enforcement
agencies including the El Paso Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s
Office, Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police.